It may be a well-worn cliche, but first impressions do matter, as much for places as they do for people.

Upon my recent return to the Chinese capital from a visit to London, I was thinking a lot about the first impressions that first-time foreign visitors must have of Beijing when they arrive.

Needless to say, they are no doubt impressed by the gleaming modernity of Beijing Capital International Airport, and in particular Terminal 3, which is world-class by any standard and can surely match any airport in any developed country.

Sadly, for most people, that illusion is likely to be dispelled the moment they pass through the automatic doors and seek a means of transport to go to the city, and are confronted by an array of taxi touts offering rides for ludicrous prices.

My latest return to Beijing took place in the early hours of the morning. Normally I would take advantage of the excellent bus service which links the airport with many areas of the city for a reasonable fare, in my case about 30 yuan ($4.40) for the trip back to China Daily.

As a long-term resident of Beijing, and having traveled from the airport more times than I can recall, I know the drill, and I know how much it really costs to take a taxi back into the city.

So you can imagine my sense of disbelief and shock when I asked an airport employee if there were still any buses running at that late hour.

Her swift reply was "no, taxi is 350 yuan to go to the city". Had I replied to her, I am afraid that it would have been unprintable in a family newspaper.

What was even more outrageous was that I could plainly see that the ticket office for buses into the city was still open (a limited night service was running), so what on earth was she talking about?

Anyway, I merely walked on, purchased my ticket and boarded the bus, which soon set off down the airport expressway to stops along the Third Ring Road.

It's one thing if a freelance taxi tout tells you some tall story about the transport situation, but when a uniformed employee of the capital city's airport spouts such nonsense, then serious questions ought to be asked of the authorities running Beijing's major international transport hub.

Such behavior is certain to tarnish the reputation of our city in the eyes of foreign visitors, it contradicts the authorities' efforts to build Beijing into a modern, world-class metropolis.

And my advice to any first-time travelers to Beijing is to avoid the taxis at the airport. It's easy to find the ticket office for the bus service, and in the daytime it offers a very comprehensive service for a very economical fare.

Contact the writer at ian@chinadaily.com.cn